I’ve made a new skirt. This new skirt is un-noteworthy except that I gave it some rather unusual little side pockets. They sit down at the hem, inserted in off-set side seams. They’re not very big pockets, just a nice size to hold my fitbit and maybe my phone at a stretch. Really, I was playing; got the idea to put them in a skirt and went for it.
The pockets are based on those in this picture, which ?I think? is from a vintage design. To accommodate them in this otherwise very plain little skirt I drafted for myself a 4-panelled skirt pattern using an old favourite Vogue 1247, a straight skirt with waistband, as a starting point. I treated the pattern like a “block”, and spliced, cut and spread and sliced and rotated to eliminate darts etc to make a 4-panelled pattern with a narrow front and back and two, even narrower, waist-to-hem side panels which host the pockets.
Fabrics; outer and lining fabrics are both from Fabulous Fabrics, a greyish purple silk hessian for the outer shell from the remnants table and burgundy polyacetate for the lining fabric. I only had 60cm of the silk hessian, barely big enough for anything at all! Extreme laying-out skillz were employed, hehe.
lining was cut using spliced-together Vogue 1247 straight, with the waist darts simply pleated into the waistband.
The grey cotton jersey edging on those pocket panels is harvested from off of an old Tshirt of Tim’s, and lack of fabric forced me to use it for the waistband facing too.
front view is kinda boring
So… skirts. I’ve been having some deep thoughts. Well, about as deep as can be expected on the subject of skirts, which is approximately puddle-depth in the scheme of things … but still.
Keeping tabs of my wardrobe over the past few years has not been totally fluff n’ puff with no substance, believe it or not some actual useful conclusions have been reached. *gasp!*
Into Mind writes about finding your “uniform” and I find I tend to favour two quite distinct and different kinds of skirts; plain and straight “little” skirts like my new one here and then longer, three-quarter length ones that can be a bit more visually interesting, more pfouffy with layering and/or detailing.
During winter, well I could happily and comfortably live in the former, plain, straight, little skirts, all winter long. I like to wear jeans every now and then, but really, if I’m being honest, skirts are just far more “me”.
It’s nice to have some skirt-and-top “outfits”, that go together so well they don’t need to go with anything else, ie. my Alabama Chanin ensemble; but obviously solid-coloured separates are the absolute best workhorses for mixing and matching the sometimes disparate elements of my wardrobe. Colourwise, I have seasonal favourites and basics and neutrals, sure, and I also like to have some odd colours, “outliers” in my wardrobe to choose from too, to suit whatever changing mood I’m in. And, I don’t know if it’s because I pluck them from my wardrobe more frequently, or because of their straight shape, or both; but all my “little” skirts always seem to bag out and die more quickly too.
Sadness ensues. Cue tiny violins.
Anyway, just some random thoughts. Ergo, I’m stocking up on some little skirts in a few different colours. So sensible! It’s early to judge it yet, but I think this sludgy purply-grey colour might be a totally excellent one in my winter wardrobe. It’s not obviously a neutral, nor a colour, but manages to be a bit of both, if that makes any sense at all. We shall see, we shall see… 🙂
back view, also kinda boring
Details:
Skirt; my own design, derived from Vogue 1247 as a “block”, deep purple silk hessian
Top; the loose drape top, modified, from drape drape by Hisako Sato, white cotton jersey, details here
Shoes; Zomp, from Zomp shoe boutique
Beautiful…….another winner.
thank you so much Rianna 🙂
What a cute little detail! I love this kind of "plain & simple but with a twist" garments. I´m still figuring out my uniform, for most days skirt and top or a dress with a cardigan or jacket are just fine. For travelling, I prefer skirts and tops over dresses as they are easier to combine and allow for more variaty. What I still need are some nice, not too basic tops for the days where I need to wear pants/jeans to work for practical reasons. I should pull out all my Japanese sewing books for inspiration and get started… 🙂
I like your skirt, the tulip pocket is the eyecatcher.
Christine
Very nice! I love wearing skirts over shorts or pants. I have so many now, but I still want to make more! I'm having trouble getting that perfect waistband size though if it's not elastic. I need to compensate for a little weight gain! ha ha Now my skirts from that same Vogue pattern are a little bit uncomfortable.
This is super pretty! X
It actually makes a lot of sense about it not being quite a neutral or a colour. I recently said something similar about looking for the perfect t-shirt. I want something detailed enough to wear on its own, but plain enough that it can go with almost any skirt or cardigan. It is hard to find that perfect in between, but I think you've nailed it here. The pocket detail is super sweet and the colour (or non-colour), is very pretty. Well done! 🙂
Your new skirt is just adorable! Your skills altering the patterns are amazing. I really have to learn (and try, above all, try)
Such cute little pockets. Really love what you did there. And I agree, colours like that are the best, and make for the most interesting (and most loved)'"neutrals".
Great skirt! I really love the pocket detail and as you probably know, it is my favourite skirt base as well. I have been adding to my skirt collection as well. I find I just don't seem to have enough of these work horses.
Not boring to me, I love a pocket combination. Jo x
Ooh I like it. That pocket and color keep it from becoming boring. It's a very nice skirt shape too.
Very fun, and great colour too – especially with the White.
lovely pockets and perfect with the simple line of the skirt
What a spectacular design! This skirt isn't plain or blah from any angle — the color is intriguing, the pockets surprising. Great job!
Beautiful little skirt! I love the pocket details 🙂
Love your little skirt and those pockets add that bit extra which takes it up a notch. Interesting colour and it will fun to see how it works with your winter wardrobe.
I also love my little skirts for winter and this pattern is certainly my favourite one as well.
The pockets are a very attractive shape and I like the quirky placement. I agree about the usefulness of knowing what you prefer to wear most of the time and having a few different coloured items in that style to pick from.
Its gorgeous Carolyn, a not-so-basic basic with that delightful pocket detail.
thank you Dilliander 🙂
It's definitely a good idea to know your "uniform" and plan accordingly. Mine changes for different seasons… I'm definitly on team skirt and blouse during the warmer months, but jeans all the way in the winter. Too cold here to do otherwise! This skirt is adorable, love the pocket detail!
Clever little pockets. Like yours a bit better than the inspiration too!
Silk hessian sounds divine. Does it feel like linen? Finding a 'uniform' that I want to sew *and* wear is tricky for me right now. I have grand ideas on my sewing list which are mostly 'basics with a twist'. Interestingly I don't have a lot of skirts on there but that's clearly an oversight (and I should get over my complex about my legs).
thanks Sundari! and yes, the hessian does feel a bit like linen. I think the key to finding your uniform is to take note of the things you reach for again and again and again. Having my ootd blog has helped me there 🙂
I like this a lot!
Great skirt – not boring at all. Looks like front and back views give a hint of something interesting at the side. Can't agree that skirts aren't a deep subject (well, deep-ish) given the rise and fall of hemlines linked to women's rights and economic tides. It makes sense that your uniform would include a skirt rather than trousers because (a) your climate is conducive to enjoying skirts and (b) your legs are really wasted when hidden. My preferred uniform is definitely pants as I have neither a nor b to recommend skirts. The only exception is that a longish dress/skirt with boots can work great in winter. Love the re-use of an old t-shirt for such a classy vintage look!
Love your skirt and wonderfully fun but stylish pockets.
Love the pocket treatment!
I think far too often we get excited by all the gorgeous "fun" fabrics available and forget to add in the solids necessary to help showcase them. It's a gorgeous skirt 🙂
Your blog is my absolute favourite! sometimes I just scroll through older posts to see the wonderful things you have made, many of which I didn't see before. Just read through your Scrap dress from March /11.
Just the best sewing blog I read. thank you for keeping it up.
thank you so much for that lovely comment Julie, that is so very kind of you. You have made my day 🙂 I still have that scrap dress but haven't worn it for a while! maybe I should hunt it out again.
I love your "sludgy" colors, and it is ever so interesting to see what you have done starting with V1247 as a block.
Love the pocket details. They take this skirt from plain and ordinary to something much more interesting. Great addition to your wardrobe and I can see you getting a lot of wear out of this one.
Very cute! I recognized that pocket from the pin immediately. It's clever how you used it at the *bottom* of the skirt.
I love your little skirts! And this pattern seems to be a real win. Think I should try it myself this summer.
Really nice adaption with the special littele pockets.
It's a very nice skirt, classy with a twist, it's perfect.
Its just the sort of skirt I would love in my wardrobe – classic, with a subtle but interesting detail for embellishment.
Hi mum the design is from the art deco era https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387028161702927344/
I have the art deco society magazines at home is you want to flick through them for more details 🙂
xxxx Cassie
love pockets in general, but these are not only clever, they add a nice design element to an otherwise ordinary skirt.
I'm giggling a little, every time you describe an item in your wardrobe as boring. 😉 That's a very pretty skirt, classy with an interesting detail. The pockets look lovely and I think the idea is a great one! And I really like it when you describe how you alter/redesign a pattern. 🙂
I'm giggling a little, every time you describe an item in your wardrobe as boring. 😉 That's a very pretty skirt, classy with an interesting detail. The pockets look lovely and I think the idea is a great one! And I really like it when you describe how you alter/redesign a pattern. 🙂
Glad you've got a place to store your fags darl! Sorry, it is a clever addition to an A-line skirt.
well, maybe it's a pity that I do not smoke then! 🙂